Elvis Costello & the Attractions Follow

The family circle gathers 'round from very far and near
To pass around the same remarks they passed away last year
The little girl you dangle on your knee without mishap
Stirs somethin' in your memory and somethin' in your lap

But it's a living
(It's a living)
This is the life
(This is the life)
For the world and his wife
For the world and his wife

The kissing cousins slip outside to cuddle and confess
She says sweet nothing at all it's much more of a mess
The conversation melts like chocolate down their open jaws
As the juniper berry slips down just like last night's drawers

But it's a living
(It's a living)
This is the life
(This is the life)
For the world and his wife
For the world and his wife

To tell the truth our mum ran off with someone else's father
Went for two weeks holiday in Taramasalata
Daddy went out with the rubbish and he kept on walking
Between mum and the walls, God only knows who does the talking

But it's a living
(It's a living)
This is the life
(This is the life)
For the world and his wife
For the world and his wife

But later on in the evening through the tears and fol de rol
Come the sentimental feelings for the lure of vitriol
Longing thoughts go hankering for the old home overseas
With a blindfold and national anthem sung in different keys

It's a living
(It's a living)
This is the life
(This is the life)

If it's a living
(It's a living)
This is the life
(This is the life)

If it's a living
(It's a living)
This is the life
(This is the life)
For the world and his wife
For the world and his wife

(It's a living)
This is the life
(This is the life)

But it's a living
(It's a living)
This is the life
(This is the life)

If it's a living
(It's a living)
This is the life
(This is the life)
For the world and his wife
For the world and his wife

It's a living
(It's a living)
This is the life
(This is the life)

If it's a living
(It's a living)
This is the life
(This is the life)

It's a living
(It's a living)
This is the life
(This is the life)
For the world and his wife
For the world and his wife

It's a living
(It's a living)
This is the life
(This is the life)

It's a living
(It's a living)
This is the life
(This is the life)

It's a living
(It's a living)
This is the life
(This is the life)
For the world and his wife
For the world and his wife

It's a living
This is the life
It's a living
This is the life
It's a living
This is the life

The family circle gathers 'round from very far and near
To pass around the same remarks they passed away last year
The little girl you dangle on your knee without mishap